The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-09
TENNYSON'S EARLY LOVE.
The Original of "Maud" and the Heroine of
"Locksley Hail."

The Original of "Maud" and the Heroine of
''Locksley Hail."
Those who are familiar with the story Of AL
fred Tennyson's life 1.-THE new name does not suit
him so we'll as the old) will smile on reading his
latest work, .'Locksley Hall Sixty Years After"
over the spirit of self-deception which runs
throughout the verses. TO the world MAUD
and "Locksley Hall" are beautiful poems only.
A few know that they are some
thing more than poems Of the imagination
they are heart records. In the sequel
to ''Locksey Hail." just published the poet tells
his grandson that he could never have loved
worldling like Judith, who has played such sad
havoc with the susceptible youths feelings, but
this is precisely what he did. When Alfred
Tennyson was promising young poet, crowned
with Oxford's academic laurels. he wooed his
first cousin, the story of which wooing he after
ward wove into beautiful verse and gave to the
world Another sutton, the wealthy heir to the
earldom Of Boyne, however, appeared on the
scene and the fair Amy afterward SO literally
adjectived as false and servile," became q
peeress.
Lord Boyne, who is the owner of large estates
and valuable coal mines in the county of Dur
ham, the heart of the northern coal fields of
England, freely extended his hospitality to his
brides cousin at Brancepeth Castle, a modern
but imposing mansion. The poet repaid the
kindness by satirizing the good natured peer, his
brand-new title and his recently acquired wealth
most mercilessly in "Maud" and 'Locksley
Hall" Independent of his wife's very natural
Indignation. Lord Boyne was not gratified to find
his beautiful home described by recent guest
as "gewgaw" castle, at having the world
informed in verse, however harmonious,
that his wealth had come from the sweat Of
miners; neither did he enjoy the thought that
the tongues of the world were wagging over the
story of his money having bought him wife
who preferred another lover. 1t is possible too,
he failed to see the beauty of those Rembrandt
like touches wherein he is described a clown
and drunken. 1t might be beautiful poetry, the
outraged host urged but it not good taste,
and it was not true. His lordship is certainly
one Of the most commonplace and uninteresting
of peers of commoners, but he is neither
coarse nor drunken, and Brancepeth Castle,
with its shivering iarches, knew Tennyson no
more.
Mr.. Tennvson's wounds healed like those of
many another lovesick swain whose limited fac
! ulty Of expression could not lead him into such
betrayal of the iares and penates; but popular as
| he is as poet, he has never gone to the hearts
| of the English people. In his early days he was
| radical to the core, and his verses overfiowed
| with the best instincts of humanity. Time has
| brought him wealth and he has accepted peer
| age. from which it is safe to assume that he 10
longer feels that contempt for new titles which
| he did in the days when he lampooned his sue
| cessful rival In reading his latest production
one is reminded of famous mot applied by a
| wit to overpraised nobleman: II heard veu
| were lord among wits but / find you are only
| a wit among lords" Alfred Tennyson was once
| a lord among poets, his new volume has proved
| him merely a poet among lords